The star-studded event, which was attended by over 700 leading songwriters, recording artists and music industry leaders, paid special tribute to Patti Smith and The Killers, and honored the songwriters and publishers behind some of today's most popular music. Top awards were presented to:

Songwriter of the Year: Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald

Song of the Year: "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

Publisher of the Year: EMI Music Publishing

Two-time Grammy Award winner Jason Mraz collected the Song of the Year award for "I'm Yours." At 76 weeks, the song holds the record for the most weeks spent on Billboard's Hot 100charts.

Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald was presented with his first-ever Songwriter of the Year award. The songwriter, performer, producer, remixer and hitmaker was responsible for penning five of the most performed songs of the past year: Britney Spears' "Circus," Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold," Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You," Miley Cyrus' "Party In the USA," and Flo Rida's "Right Round."

Patti Smith was awarded with the ASCAP's Founders Award, which recognized Smith as "a songwriter, poet, trailblazer, and rock icon whose creative genius and rock 'n' roll spirit will continue to inspire generations to come."

Las Vegas quartet The Killers was presented with ASCAP's Vanguard Award, which recognizes the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music. All four members of the band - vocalist/keyboardist Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci - were on hand to accept their award.

Other notables in attendance included apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, American Idol's David Archuleta and Allison Iraheta, Randy Bachman, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, Clem Burke of Blondie, Colby O'Donis, John Forté, Toby Gad, O.A.R., Tiësto, Leon Ware, and Butch Walker.